The 2025/26 Premier League fixtures have been released. Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are among those who have discovered their schedule for the upcoming top-flight season.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal start the campaign with a trip to Manchester United. They then face Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium before travelling to Liverpool in a tricky-looking first three matches.
Enzo Maresca's Chelsea begin with a much more favourable run on paper, as they host Crystal Palace on the opening weekend. A trip to West Ham and a home game against Fulham follow.
As for Thomas Frank's Tottenham, they host Burnley in their first game. A visit to Manchester City and a clash with Bournemouth at home follow before the September international break.
While it's important to stress that every team still has to play each other twice, ensuring you start fast can help map out the course of the season and relieve the pressure further down the line.
But now the Premier League fixture list has been released, has this changed who might the favourites to win the title, and even finish inside the top four places? Here, our football.london writers have delivered their predictions for the new season, based on the schedule and matches in place...
Kieran King
I think the pressure could be right on Mikel Arteta if Arsenal do not start well, despite their difficult-looking August and September. After finishing second three seasons in a row, the Gunners need to ensure they push on this time around and at least challenge harder, having ended ten points adrift last term.
But with Manchester United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United to come in their opening six matches, the Gunners could struggle. However, I am backing Arteta and Arsenal to show they are serious title challengers again and get through this period with at least 13 points.
That, for me, is going to give them a springboard to finish inside the top two for the fourth season on the bounce. It'll be between Arsenal and Liverpool for the title, and at this stage, I cannot call it.
As for Chelsea, they have been handed a kind start and I think that is going to help ease the pressure and burden after a limited pre-season following the Club World Cup. Based on the Blues' difficult run-in, however, I think they will finish the campaign in fourth or fifth, battling Newcastle United for that spot.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are going to experience a mixed season under Thomas Frank, I feel. I see them competing for the sixth position alongside Manchester United and Aston Villa, though they may just miss out.
Will Jenkins
Mikel Arteta’s side face a brutal opening run. Within their first six matches, they’ll face both Liverpool and Manchester City - two of their fiercest title rivals - as well as a tricky away trip to Old Trafford on the opening day. A home clash with Newcastle at the end of September only adds to the intensity of Arsenal’s early schedule.
It’s a daunting run, but also a huge opportunity. If the Gunners are serious about ending their long title drought, this is the perfect chance to lay down a marker. A fast start against elite opposition would send a clear message. But the flipside is just as important. Drop points in these key games and pressure will mount quickly, especially after three straight second-place finishes. It's hard to predict who will come out on top, but Arteta's summer signings could make all the difference - if he gets those right.
Chelsea, on the other hand have a gentler start, although not one to be underestimated. The Blues begin their season against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace before facing Manchester United in September.
If Chelsea can ride the momentum of a positive Club World Cup campaign, they’ll be in a strong position to push for a top-four spot. With young talent and a growing identity under Enzo Maresca, a Champions League return should be a realistic aim.
Tottenham might be the hardest team in the league to forecast. After a chaotic 2024/25 season in which they shockingly finished 17th but still qualified for the Champions League, new manager Thomas Frank faces the challenge of stabilising the ship.
The big question is whether European football will derail their domestic ambitions. Squad rotation and depth will be vital, and early results could shape expectations fast. While there’s enough talent to challenge for the top six, a mid-table finish feels more realistic unless Spurs quickly find consistency.
James Quinlan
Mikel Arteta will know by now it is the start of the campaign that is the most important. For a time his side won't be distracted by Champions League football, so before that competition starts in September arguably it is of vital importance to get all available points on the board.
Now, I don't see that happening with Manchester United and Liverpool away, plus Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City their first five fixtures of the season. But the same can be said for the reigning champions as they have an equally tough run to begin with, then other challengers like City and Chelsea are going to be coming back tired out from the Club World Cup.
On the subject of the Blues, they have an abundance of talent, of that there is no doubt, but I fear that when all four competitions are underway they won't have the experience to keep up a challenge on all fronts so their Premier League aims may not be met by the end of it all. Let's establish now that Chelsea should be title contenders, nothing less.
And lastly, Tottenham. Thomas Frank is a plenty capable manager but sacking Ange Postecoglou was not the answer to last season's problems - the players are the ones who need replacing.
For me, Liverpool are still the team to beat and I don't see it done easily with Florian Wirtz added to their squad. Arsenal and Chelsea will both be made to settle for Champions League qualification and Spurs will follow shortly behind, reaching either one of UEFA's other competitions.
Amie Wilson
Arsenal’s opening games could be key in their hopes of breaking their hoo-do of finally lifting that Premier League title after three years of coming close. I think their two main rivals are again Liverpool and Man City and they face both in their opening six games, positive results there will help Arsenal build up momentum for the remainder of the campaign
While I think it will between the three teams, the title race is still too hard to call for me, and could be decided by transfer business between now and the September 1 deadline.
One advantage Arsenal will have over Man City is having a proper break over the summer. While Arsenal players have their feet up, City are in Club World Cup action.
What impact it will have is still to be seen, but Chelsea are also in the competition. It could potentially impact later in the season.
Therefore, I think the Blues will again compete for a Champions League place but could potentially fall away in the closing months of the season again as the lack of a break bites for the squad. They also have some difficult games in the final weeks of the season, against Man City, an United ad Liverpool in three of their final six matches.
As for Spurs, it’s a hard one to call under new head coach Thomas Frank. A good start will be imperative , and the opener at home against newly-promoted Burnley, is, on paper, a game they will be happy with.
I can see Frank leading Spurs to a return to Europe, but fighting for a sixth or seventh place finish is maybe the best to hope for in the new season.
Jack Flintham
Just because Arsenal will be having a considerably harder start to the season than some of their rivals does not mean to say that their campaign to win the title has got any trickier. In fact, should they get off to a good start in those matches, the Gunners could position themselves well to win the league.
However, the problem for Mikel Arteta is if his team struggles during these objectively difficult matches to start the campaign. The pressure will mount quickly on him and he will have to ensure that the tide turns quickly back in his favour.
It is not very original but I think that the title, at this stage, remains Liverpool's to lose. Their squad is already looking stronger than it did last season which is a worry for Arsenal and other teams vying for the title.
I expect Chelsea to finish in the top five again but imagine they will fall short of a title challenge. The Club World Cup coupled with a return to the Champions League could stretch their squad too much.
Manchester United should perform much better than this past season but let's face it, it would be difficult to do worse. A good campaign for them would be qualification back to the Europa League through their Premier League position.
As for Spurs, they are arguably the toughest team to call. It was arguably right to part ways with Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank is a good appointment but they cannot afford to rest on their laurels just because they scraped into the Champions League.
At the moment, a top half finish is at best what I can predict for them.